Mid-term review of the Hamburg ERDF programme

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg will receive around 65 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2021 and 2027, giving it the smallest ERDF programme in Germany. Due to the limited funds available, the programme focuses on a few high-impact measures in the areas of innovation and climate protection.

Prognos conducted the mid-term evaluation of the ERDF programme Hamburg 2021-2027. On behalf of the Hamburg Ministry of Economic Affairs and Innovation (BWI), we reviewed whether the objectives are being achieved and whether adjustments to the programme's focus are necessary. We presented the results to the ERDF Monitoring Committee.

Mid-term review of ERDF funding in Hamburg: Objectives are being achieved

The European Commission requires a mid-term review to be carried out. The results may lead to changes to the programme. In addition, the programme authorities will submit a proposal for the final allocation of the flexibility amount for 2026 and 2027 based on the results.

Our mid-term review shows that the ERDF programme for Hamburg 2021–2027 is strategically well aligned. It continues to address the current challenges facing the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in a targeted manner and is in line with the country-specific recommendations for 2024, the priorities of the 2024 country report and the objectives of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP).

Most programme measures are being implemented as planned. There are delays in some areas or a need for adjustments – these issues are being actively addressed as part of a programme amendment.

Overall, it can be said that the programme is well on track to achieve its objectives by the end of the funding period. The allocation of the flexibility amount is therefore understandable and justified.

Our approach

The mid-term review of the ERDF programme for Hamburg 2021–2027 was carried out on the basis of Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. The evaluation took into account all the factors specified therein:

• the socio-economic situation in Hamburg,
• the new challenges arising from the country-specific recommendations for 2024,
• progress in implementing the integrated national energy and climate plan,
• the main findings of relevant evaluations, and
• progress in achieving the milestones.

The socio-economic analysis was a key element of the evaluation. It provides a data-based description of Hamburg's status quo with regard to existing strengths, weaknesses and transformation needs. We examined areas such as demographics, the economy, innovation, energy and digitalisation. The analysis was based on current level and time series analyses as well as comparisons with other German and European reference regions.

To assess the programme's implementation status, we also systematically evaluated the funding and monitoring data at the measure level. We examined the extent to which financial resources had already been committed and drawn down and whether the programme-related output and result indicators could be achieved. In addition, we held in-depth discussions with the administrative authority, IFB Hamburg and other relevant bodies in order to identify implementation hurdles and realistically assess whether the programme's objectives could be achieved by 2029.

Links and downloads

Final report (PDF, hamburg.de)

Project team: Nikolaus Bajor, Holger Bornemann, Dr Jonathan Eberle, Felix Ginzinger, Renke Janshen, Vincent Vogelsang

Status: 22 May 2025